The highly-anticipated Nellie Mae Brown murder trial was postponed yesterday even though both the prosecutor and the defence were ready to proceed.

Prince Hepburn, 50, is accused of brutally murdering Brown a year ago.

Brown, a former Bahamas Heart Association president, was butchered in her South Beach apartment back in April 2011.

Reports are that Hepburn and the 40-year-old were lovers at the time.

The trial has garnered much public interest particularly since photos of the victim’s body were leaked on the internet.

During yesterday’s proceedings, Justice Indra Charles indicated that she was still engrossed in an armed robbery matter concerning John Bull’s Rolex boutique.

That matter has been ongoing over the last four months.

She said she anticipates a ruling in the armed robbery matter on September 27, paving the way for the murder trial to begin on October 1.

Deputy Director of Prosecutions (DDP) Franklyn Williams is prosecuting the trial.

Hepburn is represented by attorney Murrio Ducille.

Twenty witnesses are slated to take the stand.

If convicted, Hepburn faces the death penalty or life in prison.